Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 6) — The Department of Energy (DOE) said it will require oil companies to inform the public when they will hike fuel prices due to the tax reform law.

"The gasoline stations should post for the public to know that they are already charging excise tax for kerosene, gasoline or diesel," Energy Undersecretary Wimpy Fuentebella told CNN Philippines on Saturday. "Kasi there can be a situation na may excise tax na si diesel at wala pang excise tax si gasoline or si kerosene."

[Translation: Because there can be a situation that there is already excise tax on diesel, but no excise tax yet on gasoline or kerosene.]

Fuentebella said the implementation of the excise tax is not dependent on time.

"It is dependent on the stocks that we have. Kasi 'yung nandoon sa mga gasoline stations ay may old stocks na hindi pa china-charge noong January 1," he said.

[Translation: The fuel at the gasoline stations are old stocks that have not yet been charged the higher excise tax on January 1.]

Shell Philippines communications manager Cesar Abaricia said in a Saturday statement that the company will only implement the tax once it finishes its old inventory.

"We will comply with Department of Energy's directives to oil companies that the implementation of the excise tax under (the law) shall not be applied unless 31 December 2017 inventory of finished products are fully exhausted," Abaricia said.

Fuentebella said the Energy Department will also require oil companies to submit their list of inventories.

"Para tayong parent sa ating mga anak," he said. "Walang magpo-profiteering or walang unjust enrichment on any part of them kasi it may result to a violation of the law."

[Translation: We're like a parent to our children. There should be no profiteering or unjust enrichment on any part of them because it may result to a violation of the law.]

Fuentebella added the DOE will conduct random checks of oil refineries, depots and gasoline stations to ensure that oil firms are following the law.

Give tax reform a chance

Meanwhile, a lawmaker called on the public to give the tax reform law a chance.

[Translation: We think these are just smoke screens from the basic tax package that wants to lessen taxes on the rich and hike taxes on the poor.]

Africa explained that, at most, only six to seven million Filipinos will benefit from the new tax law, or those who are exempted from the income tax.

"Para sa amin, ang pinaka-pabigat ng (batas) is for the 15 million families, poorest families na walang income tax gain, pero they'll be paying higher taxes because of the other elements of (the law)," he said.

[Translation: For us, the biggest burden of the law is for the 15 million families, poorest families that have no income tax, but they'll be paying higher taxes because of the other elements of the law.]

Under the measure, those earning up to ₱250,000 annually or around ₱22,000 a month will be exempted from paying taxes, including self-employed individuals. The bill also exempts 13th month pay and bonuses amounting to ₱90,000 from taxation.

The law will face legal scrutiny as the House of Representative's Makabayan bloc, comprised of progressive groups, is set to question the law's constitutionality before the Supreme Court this week.

Africa said he believes the entire law should be struck down and that the Finance Department should instead tax the rich with higher rates at 10 to 20 percent.